Newer Snap On scan tools still support 1995 & earlier automobiles

[hatzie]

This is not entirely GMT400 content but it's peripherally associated since it's about OBDI scan tools.
I got home from Florida several weeks ago with a 1991 Cavalier Z24 convertible saltwater flood car.
My buddy in Bradenton was buying some parts vehicles and looked it over cause he figured I might be amused by it. He told me it appeared there was no water intrusion into the transaxle or engine and it looked really clean.
Call me crazy for buying a flood car LOL.
The water line is a little strange. Water made it into the exhaust and into the sill drains but not into the interior or trunk and no evidence up top in the engine bay. No flood smell and the electronics appear to be unscathed too. Time will tell on the bottom of the car. We washed the sand and salt off bottom of the car on my buddies outdoor lift and rinsed the sills out as best we could before I left Bradenton.
We pulled the spark plugs and changed the engine oil. No water inside the engine. She does run but not perfect. Drove it on the trailer and back off when I got home.
I'll rinse out the sills and the floors and hit em with cavity wax when the witch of November goes back to sleep in March. Till then it's resting in a sea container.

My Tech2 does indeed talk to this 1991 ECM but it lacks the graphing capabilities of the newer tools.

My buddy has a shop and a newer Snap On Modis Edge with Bundle 23.4 that covers back to 1980 Domestics. He has a low mile DA-5 cable and several red OBDI adapters. It graphed sensors from my Cavalier's GM ALDL ECM just like my Autel Maxsys does for OBDII.
In a fit of tool envy and impulse buying I picked up a working reasonable looking Solus Legend with Bundle 22.4 for just over $500 at a pawn shop near the diner where I ate dinner in Atlanta. Just the tool and DA-4 OBD2 cable... no case or anything else.
My Snap On guy claims there are no unpaid liens on it and it's not listed as stolen.

I bought a DA-5 cable and an AC power pak from eBay.

I own an MT2500 Red Brick so I have a raft of Black OBD1 adapters.

NOTE*** I was intrigued about the red adapters so I did some reading. You can use the black OBDI adapters from your older Red Brick, MODIS, & Solus/Solus-Pro but there is a gotcha.

The newer Snap On tools that have 26 pin data jacks can draw battery charge power via the diag port as well as the barrel jack on the tool and they draw a lot more juice than the Red Brick Solus, Solus Pro, or Modis EEMS300.

If you're going to use the older black OBDI adapters, like I am, build up a set of power cables with two 5.5mm x 2.5mm barrel plugs to power the tool and the OBDI adapters.

They made the red OBDI adapters to carry the charge current. I made up a wye and a second 5.5mm x 2.5mm power cable so I can plug both into the cigar lighter or direct to the battery. I haven't played with it on my Cavalier but it works fine on my trucks and my 09 Impala and I don't see any reason for it to work any different from the MODIS Edge on my OBD1 machines.

If you don't have any OBDI diag adapters and you buy one of the newer tools just buy the red ones. GM-1 & Multi-1 will cover your GM needs.



This came with the tablet and the DA-4 OBDII cable in the upper right. 22.4 is the 4th quarter 2022 coverage back to 1980. I prefer my Autel Maxsys for OBDII but this is a very capable tool. Updates are extortionately priced so I will not update it.
The power pak is a Snap On part. Only cost me $10.
The DA-5 OBD1 data cable is a Snap On part as well.

The Black GM-1 & Multi-1 in the lower right are from my MT2500 red brick. I have a bunch of other adapters that came with my Brick but the only other one I've used is the Ford-1B EEC-IV adapter on my 1987 LTD.

Yes... I rolled my own DC power cables with Deutsch DT connectors, SXL 16ga wire, solder & heatshrink, and cigar lighter cords I had onhand. The only power cord purchase is the $5 right angle 5.5mm x 2.5mm DC barrel plug pigtail that I terminated with the Deutsch plug.

I used to do transit agency mobile ITS electronics field service in my prior life.
I got in the habit of using spools of 8" x 1/2" die cut Velcro "One Wrap" cable management straps and nylon zipper bags to keep my diagnostic cables, charger cords, and other cords for my gear from turning into a miserable rats nest in my laptop roller bag and the zipper bags and Velcro wire straps mostly kept the TSA from making a complete cluster**** out of my Pelican tool cases.
I use the Velcro straps on a bunch of my personal gear now. They're a heckuva lot better than the super cheap hook & loop straps.
You can get a roll of 100 for less than $15 on scamazon. https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-...dp/B001E1Y5O6/

I'm going to hunt down a decent padded shoulder strap tablet or laptop bag from one of the local college thrift stores or just spring for a new one from China-Mart. The college kids get rid of fairly nice laptop bags occasionally. I picked up four Wenger Patriot laptop roller bags last June that were essentially brand new for $8 each. They're great test gear bags that are just over $175 new.